Shipping could be included in EU's ETS as backup to IMO measures

In a position paper published on 7 January titled Priorities of the Port of Rotterdam for a European Green Deal, the Port set out a number of goals, one of which was for the EU to look into the feasibility of extending the European Emissions Trading System (ETS) to also cover shipping in the event IMO fails to adopt sufficiently ambitious measures in 2023.

“The decarbonisation of shipping is expected to be too slow if there are no strong financial incentives such as market-based measures in place at global or EU level.”

The Port of Rotterdam itself seeks to achieve a 49% reduction in emissions between now and 2030, and to become a zero-emissions port by 2050. A study from the Wuppertal Institute commissioned by the port found 87% of carbon emissions in its logistics chain can be attributed to maritime, with 9% coming from hinterland transport and the remainder coming from in-port emissions such as container handling.

Other measures called for in the paper include the EU working to boost uptake and deployment of low- and zero-emissions fuels across Europe, and for tax breaks on cleaner fuels and onshore energy supply. Just in time arrival of vessels is also highlighted as a short-term means of emissions reduction worthy of support.

Addressing how the Port of Rotterdam itself can contribute to a European Green Deal, the paper notes the port is working with industry partners on projects that could reduce carbon emissions by up to 12 megatonnes by 2030, and also notes that secured public investment of €1-1.5Bn between now and 2030 could unlock private investment of up to €5Bn in climate projects.